WEBVTT BACK TO YOU.ANCHOR: THIS TIME OF YEAR,THOUSANDSSOF SNOW BIRDS COME TOOUR AREA TO ENJOY THE GREATWEATHER AND WATER.BUT WITH SO MANY PEOPLEUNFAMILIAR WITH AREA WATER WAYS,IT IS IMPORTANT TO EXERCISECAUTION.JOINING ME NOW IS CAPTAIN RICKWOOD WITH THE PALM BEACH POWERSQUADRON.CAPTAIN RICK, THANKS FOR COMINGIN.>> MY PLEASURE.WHY DO YOU THINK BOATING SAFETYII ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT THISTIME OF YEAR?>> IT'S REALLY ALL YEAR ROUND.WE HAVE OVER 900,000 REGISTEREDVOTERS IN FLORIDA.THAT DOESN'T COUNT THOSE FROMTHE NORTH.WE HAVE OVER 600,000 ACCIDENTS.ONLY 20% OF THOSE ARE RELATED TOALCOHOL OR DRUGS.THAT LEAVES 80% OF THE ACCIDENTSGENERALLY OPERATOR ERROR.NOT BEING PREPARED.NOT KNOWING WHAT TO DO.TRYING TO PREVENT ACCIDENTS ISWHAT THIS IS ALL ABOUT IN THEPOWER SQUADRONS.WE ARE ONE OF ONE YEARS OLD.WE HAVE OVER 40,000 MEMBERS INTHE STATES.THE FIRST WEEKEND OF EVERYMONTH, WE TEACH A SAFE BOATINGCOURSE.IT'S NOT ONLY A FLORIDA BOATINGSAFETY CLASS -- IF YOU ARE BORNAFTER JANUARY IN 1988, YOU AREREQUIRED TO TAKE THE COURSE.THE MORE IMPORTANT PART, WETEACH PREPAREDNESS.PE DON'T WANT A FIRE.WE DON'T WANT TO BE GROUNDED.WE DON'T WANT TO BE STUCK AT SEAFOR SOME REASON.WE ARE TRYING TO TEACH PEOPLEHOW TO BE PREPARED, AND WHAT TODO IN THE CASE OF AN EMERGENCY.IT'S GOOD TO HAVE A RADIO.NOT REQUIRED BY LAA BY THE WAY.READ TO HAVE IT, BUT YOU HAVE TOKNOW HOW TO USE IT AND WHO TLICENSE REQUIRED IN FLORIDA?>> THE REQUIREMENT IS YES, IFYOU'RE ARE BORN AFTER JANUARY 1,1988.WE HAVE RECIPROCALS WITH OTHERSTATES.WE HAVE RECIPROCALS WITH THESTATES WITH OUR LICENSES.OTHERWISE, UNFORTUNATELY, THEYDON'T CARE IF THEY CARE ABOUTTHE SAFETY OF THEIR FAMILY ANDTHE BOATS THEMSELVES, THIS ISWHAT WE TEACH.ANCHOR: GREAT ADVICE.BE SMART BEFORE YOU HEAD OUT ONTHE WATER.HIS YOUR WEBSITE THAT PEOPLE CANGO TO?>> ABSOLUTELY.PALM BEACH SQUADRON IS ONLINE.ALSO ON FACEBOOK.